Grain market traders call off indefinite stir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 16

Members of the Grain Market Association have called off their indefinite strike after a meeting with SDM (Central) Nazuk Kumar.

Members of the association went on an indefinite strike this morning against the decision of the Market Committee to levy five-time higher parking fee in the Mandi area of Sector 26.

Association president Ram Karan Gupta said they had suffered huge losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic and charging higher parking rates would be an additional burden.

‘SDM agrees to look into demands’

Association president Ram Karan Gupta said they had decided to call off their protest after the SDM agreed to look into their demands. The Administration had also decided to withhold new parking rates till Diwali. It was agreed upon to form a committee that would look into all aspects of the parking in the mandi area.

He said they had decided to call off their protest after the SDM agreed to look into their demands. The Administration had also decided to withhold new parking rates till Diwali. It was agreed upon to form a committee that would look into all aspects of the parking in the mandi area.

Meanwhile, members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) demanded abolition of paid parking in the city.

Nitin Goyal, chief spokesperson for the AAP, Chandigarh, said they had given a call for a massive protest today against the introduction of paid parking at hourly rates at the Grain Market in Sector 26.

Speaking on the occasion, party convener Prem Garg said: “The Administration often practices ‘hit-and-trial method’ in implementing such unplanned and insane decisions without any proper study and without any public consultation, which are later withdrawn after the public comes on road”.

Garg further announced that if the AAP gets a majority in the MC elections next year, any kind of new tax would not be imposed. Rather, existing taxes and tariffs would be rationalised.

Senior leader Vijaypal Singh said the Administration must always consult and take into confidence all stakeholders before such initiatives.

Goyal said the authorities should actually handover the management of parking lots to the respective market associations of each market in the city. Several market associations have set up examples by managing parking areas in a better way, without charging any fees from customers and visitors.